Tragic Hit-and-Run Claims Life of Brisbane Teenager
A 58-year-old man has faced a Queensland court after being charged over a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a teenage girl just weeks before her 18th birthday. Frank Moneger appeared at Redcliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday following the tragic events on Margate Pde in Margate, north of Brisbane, on Monday night.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The court heard that 17-year-old Olivia was allegedly struck by a white Nissan Navara ute shortly after 11.25pm on Monday. According to police, Olivia had been out drinking with friends when their vehicle broke down, and she had gone to seek help. Some accounts presented to the court suggested she may have been lying on the road at the time she was hit.
Local residents reported hearing the crash and discovered the Boondall teenager on the road with life-threatening injuries. Officers performed CPR at the scene, but Olivia was declared dead a short time later.
Police allege that Moneger did not stop at the scene and fled the area. He was subsequently arrested at a property in Scarborough on Tuesday.
Court Proceedings and Contradictory Claims
During his court appearance, Moneger applied for bail but was refused by Magistrate Jennifer Batts, who found him to be an unacceptable risk of committing further offences and endangering community safety.
The court heard conflicting accounts from the accused. Moneger told police he knew he was involved in a crash but believed he had merely struck a roundabout. He denied knowing he had hit a person and claimed he only learned about the tragedy when he saw it on the news the following morning.
However, police presented evidence to the court suggesting Moneger had left a voicemail for his partner in which he allegedly stated, "I just killed someone, she's dead."
Family's Heartbreaking Tribute
Olivia's family has remembered the teenager as "a beautiful and gentle soul" who cared deeply about everyone around her. In an emotional statement, they revealed she was just one month away from celebrating her 18th birthday.
"She didn't realise how loved she was by everyone around her," her family said. "She never fully realised how beautiful she truly was and never realised how much she touched the people around her."
They described how Olivia had faced challenges with remarkable resilience, noting that "the world had been heavy and unkind to such a tender-hearted soul" but she always tried her best to persevere.
In a poignant reflection, her family added: "She always wanted to be like her sisters, but she never understood that it's them who wanted to be like her."
Ongoing Investigation and Future Proceedings
Frank Moneger has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and leaving the scene without providing help. The white Nissan Navara ute allegedly involved in the incident was located at a Scarborough home on Tuesday.
Magistrate Batts remanded Moneger in custody, and he is scheduled to return to Redcliffe Magistrates Court on February 12, 2026.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal hit-and-run and have appealed to the public for assistance. Anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of the area, including Mabel St and Margate Pde around the time of the incident, is urged to contact police.
